SEATTLE – Councilmember Bruce Harrell, chair of the City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, is beginning a series of Special Public Safety Committee meetings throughout the City. The first begins in the Southeast neighborhoods on Wednesday night. Councilmembers, the Mayor’s Office, Seattle Police Department (SPD) Command staff and officers, Fire Department representatives and community leaders will be in attendance.

Crime and the fear of crime, feeling unsafe alone at home, feeling unsafe walking alone after dark, and worrying about becoming a victim of crime, will be topics of discussion. Polling technology will be used to facilitate a dialog on ways to improve public safety. We will listen, identify solutions, and take action.

The discussion will also include topics such as: Should the City take the lead in establishing a database network to encourage groups of three or four to walk and jog together in their neighborhoods as a means to enhance health and positively activate their streets? How can Seattle incentivize community leaders and community organizations to positively activate their neighborhood streets and provide much needed outreach? How can neighbors help re-set their community norms to increase their health and vibrancy?

WHAT: Public Safety and Neighborhood meeting to focus on recent public safety concerns in the South Precinct neighborhoods. This special committee meeting is being co-hosted by the Southeast Seattle Crime Prevention Council.

This special committee meeting is being co-hosted by the Southeast Seattle Crime Prevention Council.

We will work with your neighborhood and focus on real public safety solutions. The special committee meeting will include state-of-the-art polling technology.
We will listen, identify solutions, and take action.

Do you have what it takes to make immediate and positive impacts every day?

SEATTLE – Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee today announced the Seattle Police Department is seeking to hire 30 to 40 entry-level police officers in 2012. Policing is a challenging and rewarding job, with the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and the community every day.

“I encourage Seattle residents who can exemplify the ideals to work in the community daily with respect and professionalism, courage to protect and serve, and a passion to creatively and effectively resolve and de-escalate problems to apply to Seattle’s Police Department,” said Councilmember Bruce Harrell.

SEATTLE – Councilmember Bruce Harrell, Chair of the Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee released the following statement regarding the recent double homicides in Rainier Valley:

“We just witnessed two more lives cut tragically short as a result of violence and criminal activity. This brings the total number of homicides to nine in 2012. The Mayor and the City Council are concerned about these events. These recent deaths are even more disturbing for Southeast Seattle residents who recently expressed their concerns of increased violence and crime at a standing room-only community meeting on February 6 in Southeast Seattle.

“Our Seattle Police Department is aggressively pursuing leads on this most recent shooting and a critical link to obtain evidence is the cooperation of witnesses and people knowledgeable about the victims, suspects and the event itself.

“Many witnesses withhold valuable information from the police because of their fear of retaliation, mistrust of the government and because they comply with a code of silence. We are asking community leaders and organizations to work with the Police Department, the Mayor’s Office and the Public Safety Committee in establishing new norms of cooperation and trust. Every community has the right to be safe and we are asking the community to help us establish cooperation with the police, institute preventative measures before crime and violence occurs through the 9-1-1 system; and help deliver a message to our youth that violence and the unlawful use of guns destroy what so many work to build—healthy communities. Our strategy will be to strengthen and protect our community.”

“We will discuss these efforts at a Special Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee meeting on March 7th (5:30 p.m.) at the Southeast Seattle Senior Center (4655 South Holly Street) on how we move forward together.”

SEATTLE – The City Council’s Public Safety, Civil Rights and Technology Committee, chaired by Councilmember Bruce Harrell, will discuss the historical and current context of the Department of Justice findings against the Seattle Police Department.

WHAT: Discussion on the Pattern or Practice process of the Department of Justice findings of the Seattle Police Department

In July of 2010, way before the tragic death of woodcarver John T. Williams, I proposed the requirement that our Seattle Police Officers wear body-mounted video cameras. Recently, the city of Oakland deployed body cameras on all of their officers. I met with Oakland’s Chief of Police Anthony Batts the week before their department went live with cameras and we reviewed film footage taken from their initial trial. Chief Batts was excited about how these cameras were going to improve their ability to learn from field events and gain strides in public trust. I also met with San Jose’s Chief Chris Moore who has similarly deployed this technology. His enthusiasm was also clear. My research has determined that least 700 departments nationwide are employing this technology and 10 jurisdictions in our state, including police departments in Bainbridge Island, Lake Forest Park, Black Diamond and Orting.

Our support for this technology is also coming from the ground up; in grassroots organizations concerned with the rights of the underserved. I spoke at the 36th Legislative District Democrats and they passed a resolution supporting my proposal. Also, the 11th Legislative District followed suit with their resolution that supported my proposal. More resolutions should be forthcoming.

I am urging Mayor McGinn to include body cameras in the negotiations of the new Seattle Police Officers Guild (SPOG) contract. During the 2011-2012 budget process, I asked the Police Department to provide a written report detailing the trial use of body cameras and to pursue federal grant money to fund a pilot project to better understand the technology. The Council requests written reports of these measures. Both reports are due to the Council in June, 2011. I suggest you let my colleagues on the Council know whether you support this game-changing effort in the world of technology and public safety. Seattle should not be the last to embrace these progressive efforts. I am sure they would love to hear from you. Here are their addresses: